Help honour Pope Leo's call for an end to violence in the West Bank

Pope Leo - Vatican Media

Aisha and the CAFOD Campaigns Team write: Following the Angelus on Sunday, Pope Leo once again called for an end "to the repeated acts of violence against the Palestinian population of the West Bank."

One of the greatest obstacles to building peace is the ongoing expansion of illegal settlements across occupied Palestinian territory.

As settlements expand, Palestinian families are driven from their homes, often amid repeated violent attacks, and are forced to watch while settlers take over. The result is widespread poverty and suffering.

That is why we are calling on the Trade Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, to ban trade with settlements, including ending the import of produce grown on illegally occupied land.

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CAFOD works closely with Palestinian and Israeli human rights organisations who during August have been supporting families under siege by settlers in the village of Qusra in the West Bank. Sadly, this is just one example of a broader pattern of violence.

Foreign trade with settlements sustains the occupation and contributes to the humanitarian crisis in the region. These settlements have long been recognised as illegal under international law, a position recognised by successive British Governments.

Despite this recognition, every year produce from these illegal settlements, from boxes of dates to bottles of wine, is sold in shops around the world, including here in Britain.

Our government must act to prevent the import of all goods and services from illegally occupied Palestinian land. Several countries, including Spain and Ireland have already taken steps to ban trade with illegal settlements.

As Bishop Jim Curry, Lead Bishop for the Holy Land, recently said: "Lasting peace can only be built on a foundation of equal human and civil rights; justice and mutual respect for all Israelis, Palestinians and people of every religious belief."

Together, we can send a clear message that we want our government to root Britain's trade policy in respect for international law and human rights."

Write to the Trade Secretary